RUSSIA HAS WEAKER ENERGY HAND TO PLAY IN UKRAINE: Russia has long used its vast energy supplies for political leverage, but its new conflict with Ukraine could show just how much that power has waned. Twice before Russia has shut off natural gas shipments through pipelines to Ukraine during fights over energy prices and past-due payments. But the Ukraine’s crucial location between the Russian state-run OAO Gazprom and its gas customers in Europe gives the former Soviet region some leverage that may help prevent Moscow from leaving Ukrainians in the cold. Darren Goode and Matt Daily have the story: http://politi.co/1mPmWjo

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Talk of the town: There will be plenty of opportunities to talk Ukraine-Russia energy politics at the IHS CERA Week kicking off today in Houston (more on that below). There will also be a session tomorrow on the Ukraine crisis — a change-up over the weekend after Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak cancelled his planned appearance over the weekend (More: http://politi.co/1lu2eE4). Interesting fact: Novak was born in the Donetsk region of Ukraine in 1971. Meanwhile, sure to get lots of attention tomorrow is Sergey Vakulenko, the head of strategy for Gazprom Neft, a vertically integrated oil and gas company owned mostly by Gazprom.

— Andrew Restuccia is in town for the event, so drop a line to our man in Havana — er, Houston: arestuccia@politico.com.

SPEAKING OF OIL EXPORTS: President Barack Obama has the authority to lift the ban on oil exports, according to a report Murkowski will release today. From the report: “The president has always acted with or through the Department of Commerce; in the cases of the U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement and Alaskan North Slope exports, the executive branch has collaborated with Congress. Even statutes that generally prohibit the export of crude oil contain provisions that permit the president to authorize exports under certain conditions.” Read: http://politico.pro/1mPhnkS

HOUSE TO VOTE ON ENERGY BILLS: ME wrote on Friday that the House this week would take up several GOP bills targeting administration climate and environmental regulations. (Refresher: http://politi.co/1dbx5jW). Those bills aren’t likely to garner much Democratic support — but some energy efficiency legislation might. Slated to hit the floor as early as Tuesday is legislation from Reps. David McKinley and Peter Welch that would require DOE and the General Services Administration to develop model practices and provisions for landlords to help them make cost-effective decisions that improve energy efficiency in commercial buildings. This version on the floor has been expanded from the committee version to include other bills on efficiency at federal data centers and in water heaters. The bill is the fast track treatment that requires two-thirds approval and is usually saved for non-controversial legislation.

But wait, there’s more: The House will also vote this week on a bill from Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Bill Shuster to address the shortage of home heating fuels affecting much of the U.S. Shuster’s bill, which he introduced just last week, would extend an emergency Transportation Department order letting truckers hauling home heating fuels drive for longer hours, thus speeding up deliveries. Shuster's bill would authorize an extension of DOT’s 30-day order through May 31, 2014.

Snow drift: The Hill is already pushing back its timetable for this week thanks to today’s snow day. As of now, it’s not clear when these bills will hit the floor, or if there will be time this week — so stay tuned.

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HUNDREDS ARRESTED IN W.H. KXL PROTEST: Almost 400 anti-Keystone XL protesters were arrested yesterday afternoon outside the White House in the latest push by environmentalists to convince the Obama administration to reject the Canadian oil pipeline. The student-led protest, organized by XL Dissent, started with a rally at Georgetown University. The students marched from there to the White House — with a stop at Secretary of State John Kerry’s house. Talia Buford was on the scene: http://politi.co/1cm7Ptj

FRIDAY NEWS — EPA WADES INTO PEBBLE MINE ISSUE: EPA announced Friday it is starting a process to decide what environmental restrictions are needed for a controversial gold and copper mine planned in Alaska, in the meantime blocking the Army Corps of Engineers from issuing a Clean Water Act permit for the massive project. “This is not … something the agency does very often, but the Bristol Bay fishery is an extraordinary resource and it’s worthy of out-of-the-ordinary agency actions to protect,” EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy said. ICYMI, Erica Martinson has more: http://politico.pro/1knQxi2

Op-ed watch: The move is getting praise from the New York Times: http://nyti.ms/1gMeWZ6. The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner is more critical, writing: “If ever there is an example of overreach by a federal agency, the EPA administrator’s decision to go out of her way to put up a major roadblock in front of the Pebble mine at this early stage is it.” http://bit.ly/1oiHsV3

TIER 3 RULE COMING SOON: As readers of Energy Regulation Watch (Pros can sign up here: http://politico.pro/1fESIb5) learned Friday, sources say EPA plans to release its Tier 3 rule today (though the expected snow and government closure could push that back). Expect the rule to require refiners to cut sulfur content from gasoline from 30 parts per million to 10 ppm by Jan. 1, 2017. That date is a sticking point for state air regulators who have been pushing for the rule, in hopes that it will enable many areas to meet recently tightened soot standards without placing additional restrictions on stationary polluters.

Meanwhile, at OMB: The Office of Management and Budget took some meetings about Tier 3 in the last couple of weeks, according to newly posted records. Administration officials met with Phillips 66 representatives on Feb. 19 and with the Alliance of Auto Manufacturers and Global Automakers on Feb. 20.

COMING TOMORROW — WHITE HOUSE BUDGET: The Obama administration will release its proposed budget tomorrow, and while the document is essentially dead on arrival on the Hill, it will offer a glimpse into the White House’s plans. Sharp ME readers will remember Obama plans to ask Congress to set up a $1 billion fund to back research into the effects of climate change on agriculture, infrastructure and more. The budget will also reportedly propose a change in how wildfire fighting efforts are funded, to allow wildfires to be declared disasters by the president and receive extra funds.

METHANE EMISSIONS CAN BE CUT INEXPENSIVELY — GREEN REPORT: The natural gas industry can cut methane emissions significantly for just pennies, a new report backed by the Environmental Defense Fund says. Existing technologies would let the industry cut onshore methane emissions by 40 percent for less than one cent per thousand cubic feet of gas produced, according to the report from ICF International. “ICF’s in-depth analysis points out the vast potential this nation has to address one of the key environmental issues confronting U.S. oil and gas development,” said EDF President Fred Krupp. “We now have a clear path to protecting American communities and the global climate from methane pollution — and it turns out to be an extremely low-cost path.” Report: http://bit.ly/1g3GWpv

OIL TRADERS KEEP CLOSE EYE ON WASHINGTON: Reuters writes: “While energy policy has typically moved at a steady, stately pace for much of the past few decades, Washington is now grappling with a host of pressing questions that will affect oil prices: easing a crude oil export ban that could raise domestic crude prices; adjusting ethanol quotas in order to curb gasoline rates; imposing new rules on tank car safety that could slow the nascent oil-rail boom. These issues are coming to the fore amid wider policy shifts under President Barack Obama that have forced oil traders to pay closer attention to what's going on in Washington, a place many find hard to pierce.” Reuters: http://bit.ly/1eRVMyl

MOVER, SHAKER: The international law firm Dentons has picked up Jeff Lane, who last May stepped down as the congressional affairs chief for the Energy Department after three years. Lane also helped with Ernest Moniz's nomination to head DOE.

Thursday — The Commerce Committee's surface transportation panel holds a hearing on rail safety issues with passenger and freight rail, with testimony from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration and the American Petroleum Institute. http://1.usa.gov/1dzBucc. 11 a.m., Russell 253

THIS WEEK IN THE HOUSE

Tuesday — The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee holds a second hearing on the impact of maritime transportation regulation on the environment, safety and security. Chris Grundler of EPA's Office of Air and Radiation and Michael Shapiro of EPA's Office of Water testify. http://1.usa.gov/1fA9Sob. 10 a.m., Rayburn 2253

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Authors:

About The Author

Alex Guillén is an energy reporter for POLITICO Pro, where he covers EPA, regulations and coal, as well as lobbying and campaign finance in the energy realm. He previously wrote the Morning Energy newsletter. He graduated from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va., with a degree in anthropology and English. He is an avid reader and TV binger. The Delawarean, thrilled that there are finally Capriotti’s outposts in Washington, lives in Alexandria, Va.